Countdown to Christmas: Mouthwatering traditional Italian stew

With Christmas just two days away, there is still time to broaden your food palette and ways to do that include getting new recipes to try this festive such as osso buco.

Translated to “off the bone”, osso buco is a traditional northern Italian stew that celebrates the impossible tenderness of crosscut veal shank.

Osso Buco recipe

Ingredients

FOR THE OSSO BUCO:

• 6 (1 ¼”-thick) crosscut bone-in veal shanks, tied with kitchen twine (about 2 3/4 lb.)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour or cornstarch
• 6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 medium carrots, finely chopped
• 2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 c. dry red or white wine
• 2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 1 bay leaf

FOR THE GREMOLATA:

• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

ALSO READ: Countdown to Christmas: Delightful yet healthy recipes

Directions

1. Adjust a rack to the lower third of your oven and preheat to 325°. On a large plate, pat veal shanks dry with paper towels and season all over with 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Place flour or cornstarch on a large plate and dredge the shanks all over, shaking off any excess. Return to the plate, and repeat until all shanks have been coated.
2. In a large Dutch oven, heat 4 tablespoons of oil over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, sear the shanks on all sides until golden, about 10 minutes per batch. Transfer shanks to the plate. Using a paper towel, wipe any dark bits and excess oil out of the pot.
3. Return the pot to medium heat, and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Once hot, add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to turn tender about 8 minutes.
4. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and bring it to a boil. Boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the broth, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf, and return the shanks to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and transfer to the oven. Bake until the shanks are very tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, make the gremolata: Combine parsley, zest, and garlic in a medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
6. Remove the pot from the oven and use a spoon to remove excess fat from the top of the sauce. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Discard bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary and remove and discard the butchers’ twine from the shanks.
7. Top with the gremolata and spoon juices over top to serve.

ALSO READ: Countdown to Christmas: Delicious cocktails to sum up your festivities

This recipe can be found on Delish

Find more recipes here.